Thanks to the dozens of neighbors who came out Friday night Thanksgiving weekend to celebrate a season of giving. A truck load of diapers and baby supplies were delivered to the Greatere Minneapolis Crisis Nursery & People Serving People. We hope to grow this event next year – ideas welcome! NOTE: We are working out some lighting issues as the ice rink is built, so the lights may not be on for a few days while some re-wiring is done.

A Local Conversation about Islamophobia

Monday, December 12 6:00-7:30pm
Southwest High School Auditorium
(Enter through Door 1 at 47th & Beard)

Join our City Council Member, Linea Palmisano and her guest panelists for a conversation on how Islamophobia affects our community and what we can do about it. Come with your questions and hear from an excellent group of panelists as we address this important topic. (Facebook event info.)

Please join the Armatage Neighborhood Association (ANA) on Saturday, January 7, 2017, 10-11:30am, at the Armatage Community Center for free food and drink to build community, network, and share any questions or concerns. The ANA is especially interested in feedback on what kinds of workshops, events, or support would be useful to renters in the neighborhood.

Free copies of the book “How to be the Smartest Renter” will be available to attendees (first come, first served).

Armatage Fire & Ice

Neighborhood Ice Skating Party

Friday, January 20
6:00-8:00pm

Join us down at Armatage Park for the 4th annual Fire & Ice Skating Party!! Grab your mittens and hat for this outdoor neighborhood celebration. Enjoy a night with family and friends skating and a variety of outdoor activities or keep warm with hot chocolate and bonfire. No registration required, just come on down!

Applications now accepted for STEP-UP summer youth employment program

The City of Minneapolis youth employment program STEP-UP is now accepting applications for 2017 summer interns. Eligible Minneapolis youths ages 14-21 who are interested in participating in the 2017 STEP-UP may go online and fill out the application until February 10, 2017.

STEP-UP is one of the country’s premier youth employment programs, serving Minneapolis youths who face some of the greatest barriers to employment. This includes youths from disadvantaged economic backgrounds, youths of color, youths from recent immigrant families, and youths with disabilities. In addition to summer jobs with more than 230 top Twin Cities companies, nonprofits and public agencies, STEP-UP also offers work readiness training, advanced-level internships and industry-specific career opportunities that help interns integrate their career exposure with post-secondary education and career planning.

aMEALiorate

We connect strangers wanting to find, build, and strengthen their community.

Founded in 2016, aMEALiorate is one answer to the question “How do I get to know others who are in my community, but are outside my everyday life?” The act of eating is shared by all, regardless of age, gender, identity, culture, or heritage. aMEALiorate enables the meal; the participants choose what happens next. Learn more about this program and how to participate!

Easiest Way to Reduce Waste? Food Recycling!

Hennepin County conducted a waste sort to learn more about what residents are throwing away and what opportunities we are missing to recycle more.

The study involved sorting residential trash from Minneapolis into new categories to get better, more specific information about what could be recycled now but is not, and what opportunities need to be developed to increase recycling in the future. Food is the most prevalent material in the trash by far. Steps you can take to reduce food waste include using up all of the food that you buy, practicing meal planning, understanding the date labels on food, and properly storing your food. As we enter the holiday season, residents can use holiday parties and dinners as an opportunity to learn about preventing the waste of food and other organics. Find resources at savethefood.com. Sign up to for curb-side organics recycling in Minneapolis!

Lower your thermostat. When you are at home or awake, set your thermostat as low as is comfortable. When you are asleep or away from home, turn your thermostat down about 10 degrees—either manually or with a programmable thermostat. This can reduce your heating bill by about 10 percent.

Take advantage of heat from the sun. Open curtains on your south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat your home, and close them at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.

Cover drafty windows. Tape clear plastic film to the inside of your window frames during the cold winter months to reduce air leakage around windows.

Weather strip and caulk windows and doors to eliminate air infiltration.

Seal air leaks to prevent cold air infiltration around chimneys, vents, pipes and wires. Plugging air leaks is one of the most cost-effective ways to conserve energy and increase comfort—and is the key to preventing ice dams.

Close your fireplace damper when a fire is not in use and install airtight doors to prevent warm air from escaping. If the fireplace is no longer used, seal the flue with an inflatable plug.

Maintain your heating system. Have your furnace or boiler inspected annually to ensure maximum efficiency and safety. Also consider replacing mechanical systems if they’re old or inefficient, and clean or replace furnace filters regularly as needed. For wood and pellet-burning heaters, clean the flue vent and the inside of the appliance to improve efficiency.

Turn down the temperature of your water heater to 120 degrees F. Not only will this save energy, it will reduce the danger of scalding.